A
 
A               D                          A
Last night as I got home about a half past ten
                      D
There was the woman I thought I knew
                       A
In the arms of another man

  A               D
I kept my cool, I ain't no fool
                              A
Let me tell you what happened then
                          D
I packed some clothes and I walked out
                  A
And I ain't going back again

   A                       G
So take a letter, Maria, address it to my wife
D                                             A
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
                      G
Take a letter, Maria, address it to my wife
D                                             A
Send a copy to my lawyer, I gotta start a new life

            A               D                               A
You've been many things but most of all a good secretary to me
                           D                                A
And it's times like this I feel you've always been close to me
               D                                  A
Was I wrong to work nights to try to build a good life
             D                          A
All work and no play has just cost me a wife

   A                       G
So take a letter, Maria, address it to my wife
D                                             A
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
                      G
Take a letter, Maria, address it to my wife
D                                             A
Send a copy to my lawyer, I gotta start a new life

A                  D                       A
When a man loves a woman it's hard to understand
                         D                               A
That she would find more pleasure in the arms of another man
               D                            A
I never really noticed how sweet you are to me
                       D                                                A
It just so happens I'm free tonight, would you like to have dinner with me?

   A                       G
So take a letter, Maria, address it to my wife
D                                             A
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
                      G
Take a letter, Maria, address it to my wife
D                                             A
Send a copy to my lawyer, I gotta start a new life

      A                      G              A
Well, take a letter Maria, address it to my wife . . .